LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Lake Creek remained undefeated and topped the 2023 USA TODAY Sports/NFCA High School Super 25 for the 19th straight week.
The defending Texas 5A state champion Lions (26-0) surrendered just one run combined in lopsided wins over A&M Consolidated (11-1 last Friday) and Rudder (12-0 Tuesday) to extend its hitting streak to 67. Lake Creek has now won 105 of 107 games over the past three seasons. The only losses during that stretch were two losses (one in extra innings) to eventual state champion Barbers Hill in the best-of-three regional final in May 2021. The Lions play College Station next Friday.
Roncalli (Indiana) will hold on to second place for at least another week. The Royals finally begin their 2023 season on Tuesday against Columbus North. Third-ranked Benton (6-1) likely also wants to get on the field after not playing since a 16-1 win over Hot Springs on March 14. The Panthers don’t play again until April 11 at El Dorado.
Meanwhile, California powers Norco (13-1) and Los Alamitos (8-2) moved up one spot to round out the top five, while Neshoba Central (10-2) is No. 6 this week, followed by undefeated newcomer Saint Francis (5-0) and Jackson (7-0), still-perfect Moorpark (9-0) and one-loss St. Amant (23-1).
No. 14 Rockridge (4-0), No. 16 Coral Springs Charter (11-0-2) and 18th-ranked West Stanley (9-1) are the other three making the rankings this week.
State rankings presented by 2023 NFCA High School Management Committee are used to compile the USA TODAY Sports/NFCA High School Super 25. Teams are selected based on performance, roster quality, strength of schedule and active NFCA membership.
USA TODAY Sports/NFCA High School Super 25 Poll – April 6, 2023
1. Lake Creek (Texas)
Record: 28-0 | PR: 1
2. Roncalli (Indiana)
Record: 1-0-1 | PR: 2
3. Benton (Ark.)
Record: 6-1 | PR: 3
4. Los Alamitos (California)
Record: 14-2 | PR: 5
5. Neshoba Central (Miss.)
Record: 17-2 | PR: 6
6. Saint Francis (California)
Record: 9-1 | PR: 7
7. Jackson (Washington)
Record: 10-0 | PR: 8
8. Moorpark (California)
Record: 11-0 | PR: 9
9. St. Amant (La.)
Record: 26-1 | PR: 10
10. Willow Canyon (Arizona)
Record: 18-0-1 | PR: 11
11. Bentonville (Arkansas)
Record: 11-1 | PR: 12
12. Watkins Memorial (Ohio)
Record: 5-0 | PR: 13
13. Rockridge (Illinois)
Record: 7-0 | PR: 14
14. Norco (California)
Record: 16-2 | PR: 4
15. Mount Vernon (Mo.)
Record: 14-1 | PR: NR
16. Coral Springs Charter (Florida)
Record: 13-0-2 | PR: 16
17. Salpointe Catholic (Arizona)
Record: 23-1 | PR: 17
18. West Stanley (North Carolina)
Record: 13-1 | PR: 18
19. Anthony Wayne (Ohio)
Record: 1-0 | PR: 19
20. Special Fork (Utah)
Record: 6-1 | PR: 20
21. Queen Creek (Arizona)
Record: 18-1-1 | PR: 21
22. Bend (Ore.)
Record: 6-2 | PR: 22
23. Bingham (Utah)
Record: 3-2 | PR: 23
24. Immaculate Heart Academy (New Jersey)
Record: 2-0 | PR: 24
25. Donovan Catholic (NJ)
Record: 3-0 | PR: 25
Dropped out: North Augusta (South Carolina).
Celebrating 40 years in 2023, the NFCA (National Fastpitch Coaches Association) is the professional organization for fastpitch softball coaches. Known for its vast library of digital education, NFCA also educates and supports softball coaches at various levels: from podcasts to extensive Awards and Scholarships platform, to NFCA Webinar and a National convention.